the goan I network
VASCO
“In the last season, MPT handled 29 cruise vessels and during the current season 40 cruise liners have been scheduled till May. So far, 27 vessels have already visited the berth, while the remaining 13 cruise vessels are expected shortly,” he said.
“Next year, MPT expects around 60 cruise vessels to visit Mormugao port and within the next 2-3 years, this number should rise to about 70-80 cruise vessels, even going up to 100 plus cruise liners in the next five years. The MP also has plans to berth two vessels at a time.”
“We have to do some more reassessment and convert the berth exclusively for cruise terminal as the Navy and Coast Guard will be shifted within the next 4-5 years and during that time, we expect 100 plus cruise vessels to call on the port,” the MPT chairman said.
Asked to comment on the infrastructure being planned to house immigration, customs and other services, Jayakumar said: “The cruise building is almost complete.”
To another query on the effective utilisation of cruise facilities at the port, he added: “International tourists will be using the building for only 40 days in a year. During the rest of the year, the building will be idle and we are planning to promote domestic tourism. In order to cater to these domestic tourists, MPT plans to lease a part of the building to run a restaurant,” said Jayakumar.
